What can real art do for us?

(Why Imperfect Art Might Be Exactly What You Need)

Mark Rothko once said, when pressed about the meaning of his art:

“You’ve got sadness in you, I’ve got sadness in me – and my works of art are places where the two sadnesses can meet, and therefore both of us need to feel less sad.”

(as told by Alain de Botton)

To me, that’s the essence of what real, authentic art can do.

Art, of any kind, helps us hold what can’t be said. It gives shape to emotions we may not have words for. It reflects our inner world. It steadies us, rebalances us, reminds us of beauty, sorrow, wonder, and truth.

It ignites feelings we need more of: gratitude, awe, compassion.

The kind of art I make is flawed and imperfect, and that too is part of its power. It mirrors the reality that we are flawed and imperfect. That life is messy. But in that mess is beauty. In that honesty is perfection.

When someone sees themselves in that work, they feel seen, not in spite of their humanness, but because of it.

Art also invites curiosity. And curiosity, once cultivated, makes us better humans. It softens judgment. It opens doors. It expands empathy.

Art is a bridge—to emotion, to memory, to others. It invites connection: with community, with something greater, with another human being.

And what could matter more than that?

Mindfulness and art

Mindfulness and art saved me—and I have made a free pdf download everything I wish I’d had known when I was starting. If you have ever wondered what mindfulness is, then this booklet will help.